Tube stripping machine



Jan. 19, 1960 s. BoRAK 2,921,717

TUBE STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. l, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. BORAK TUBESTRIPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 1, 1957 United StatesPatent v(j) 2,921,717 TUBE STRIPPING MACHINE Sam Borak, Washington, D.C.

Application November 1, 1957, Serial No. 693,876

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-101) This invention relates to a device fordispensing the contents of'a collapsible tube and particularly relatesto a mechanism which can releasably support one or more collapsibletubes containing paint color pigments in iluid or semiplastic form andprovides a means for quickly and conveniently dispensing all of suchmaterial from the collapsible tubes.

Many devices have been previously proposed for dispensing material fromcollapsible tubes, it appearing that the majority of these weredeveloped in conjunction with dispensing tooth paste onto a tooth brush.In such previous devices a shoe or roller is normally used to press acollapsible tube at against a back plate support, the shoe or rollerbeing guided along a lixed track toward the dispensing end of thecollapsible tube. Such shoes and rollers were spaced a fixed distancefrom the backing plate and thus provided no means to compensate forvariations in collapsible tube wall thicknesses. A majority of thepreviously known roller type dispensers utilized some form of cogarrangement which cooperated with a ixed rack on the backing plate toenable progressive movement of the roller along the tube as the rollerwas directly rotated by a knob, the roller and knob progressing togetheralong the tube as dispensing was accomplished.

The present invention was conceived in view of a specic need whichdeveloped in the mixing of color pigments with paint vehicles in smallquantities, according to individual demand by such vendors as hardwaredealers. To eliminate ineilcient, wasteful and messy hand squeezing, arugged form of collapsible tube dispenser for use with tubes of paintcolor pigment was desirable. This dispenser should be capable ofhandling any of the numerous commercially available sizes of tubes ofpaint color pigment without multiple adjustments and regardless of thelength of tube. The device should dispense the material directly intothe mixing container, and it should be possible to simultaneouslydispense two tubes of diierent color pigment into a mixing vat duringasingle operation. These needs are met by the present invention.Moreover, to enable ease of operator manipulation during actualdispensing operation, a large hand crank, mounted on a fixed axis whichdoes not shift as dispensing progresses, has been provided in thepresent invention. l

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention resides in theprovision of a rugged tube dispensing device providing ready access forquick insertion, positive retention and ease of removal of tubes, andenabling complete dispensing of material such as paint pigments fromtubes of multiple shapes and lengths.

A still further object resides in the provision of a novel dispensingdevice provided with means for clamping a' collapsible tube lilled withuid paint pigment, having a resiliently mounted adjustable pressureapplying means for resiliently compressing the tube to dispense itscontents and insuring complete dispensing by compression of the entirewidth of the tube progressively along its length regardless ofvariations in tube wall thicknesses.

Still another object of this invention resides in providf 2,921,717Patented Jan. 19, 1960 rice ing a dispensing device enablingsimultaneous dispensing of the materials from a plurality of collapsibletubes.

Another object of this invention resides in providing a ruggedcollapsible tube dispensing device having a rotatable operating shaftjournalled on a xed axis in said device, and operatively connected to atranslating tube compressor carrier assembly.

Further novel features and other objects of this inven- -tion willbecome apparent from the detailed description and the appended claimstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view illustrating a preferred constructionof a multiple tube dispensing device made in Vaccord with thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a view from below looking at the lower end of the dispensingdevice shown in Figure 1 as indicated by the section line 2 2, andillustrates details of the tube compressor mechanism and carrier withits adjustable resilient biasing features;

Figure 3 is a detailed section view taken on line 3 3 of Figure l andillustrates further details of the compression member and carriersupport bridge;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section view taken on line 44 i 5 illustratingdetails of the crank brackets;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view taken on line 7 7 of Figure 5illustrating one of the translating racks cooperating with an operatingpinion;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail section View taken on line 8 8 of Figure5 showing cooperative details between the crank shaft and its supportbracket; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed View taken on line 9 9 of Figure 5illustrating mounting details of the multiple, gripper blocks with theirconnecting studs projecting through the backing plate. p

vReferring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and'. 2, a preferredembodiment of the dispensing device 20 is shown as being mounted on theside of ajfixed object such as a work table 22.

The dispensing device 20 has a main frame member 24 made of heavy gaugesheet metal. Frame 24 has a primary llat rectangular portion 26, whichduring operation will be situated in a vertical plane and will serve asa backing plate for tubes of material. The vertical side edges of theflat plate 26 are bent forward at an approximately angle, terminating ininwardly directed narrow ianges 28 to constituterlaterally spacedvertically disposed channels 30 integral with each side of the tlat backportion- 26.

A tubular section 32 is secured as by welding to the outer side of theleft-hand channel 30 (Figure 1). This tube section 32 enables thedispensing device 20 to be mounted on a vertical rod 34 which can besecured by clamps 36 to the side of Work table 22. At an inter mediateposition in the tubular section 32, an apertured internally threadedboss 38 provides means for a handled locking screw 40 which can betightened against rod 34 to securely maintain the dispensing device 20Vin a fixed position relative to table 22. A convenient manner ofproviding the internally threaded boss 38 is to form a'n opening in thetubular section 32 and weld a nut over such opening.

As described atback portion 26 of ramef2'4 constitutes the supportagainst which collapsible tubes will be;

' beyond `the retaining plate.

held in position and compared to dispense their contents. Such a tube`42 is illustrated in phantom lines in Figure 1 and for convenience inthis description will be referred hereinafter as an oil color tube.

Two vertical slots 44 ,and 46 are cut or otherwise formed through -theat back'portion '26.. One slot 44 may be made Ylarger in width than theother slot 46 or both maybe .the same width as desired for convenienceand standardization of gripper block production. Each of the'slots 44'and 46 have vertical and parallel side edges I4%, and their upper endsterminate a short distance below the top of the vframe member 24 Whiletheir lower edges terminate above the bottom edge. of frame 24 and neednot be as close as. the top edges. Actually the length of lthe slot willdetermine the versatility of the device in accommodating a variety oflength of :tubes in a convenient manner. The .two slots 44 and 46 andtheir associated tube gripping components and gripper operatingcomponents are essentially theV same, hence it willV be necessary todescribe but one set of slots and associated components in detail. Wherepossible, without obscuring the description, similar components will oereferenced by a single reference numeral.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the vertical parallel edgesy48 of slot `44 areV undercut as by a 45 chamfer. Disposed in the slot44 are a series of tube endV gripper blocks '50, 52, 54, 56 and 58.`Each of gripper blocks 50 through '58 are rectangular and have the samethickness dimension as at portion 26 of the frame member 24 and,although their vertical dimensions can vary from block to block, the`breadth dimension is equal on all blocks and will be the same as thewidth of slot `44. All of the blocksSO-SS are beveled on their verticalside edges, as indicated by block 56 in Figure 4, this bevel cooperatingwith the undercut inclination on edges 48 of the vertical slot 44.Blocks Sti-'58 have horizontal upper and lower edges which can abut withone another in the various shifted position of the blocks along the slot44. Note that the length of the slot y44 is greater than the totalheight of all the blocks when placed one on top of the other, thuspermitting a vertical shift ofthe blocks in various arrangements as willbecome apparent hereinafter. Although five blocks are illustrated -inthe vertical slot 44, it isto be understood that a greater or lessnumber of blocks may be utilized depending upon a specific design.

Each of blocks Sti-58 has-a centrally disposed horizontal stud 60extending from its rear face. Studs 60 can be provided by rivets passingthrough Vthe center of each block and welded thereto Vso the rivet headwill be flush with the front face of the block.

Blocks-50-58- are placed in the Vslot y44 from the rear of frame member24 and a retaining plate 62 (Figure 5) made from a hat rectangular pieceof sheet metal approximately Vthe same thickness as frame member 24 isdisposed against the back of the iiat portion 26 and secured thereto byiiat headed screws and nuts. Referringnow to Figures 4, 5 and 9, theretaining plate 62includesY a plurality of vertical slots 64, equal innumber to the gripper Vplate studs 60, which in assembly t o er therearwardly projected studs 60, the ends of which project Figure 4closely illustrates the manner in which Vretaining' plate y62 locks eachof theY gripper blocks 50-"58 into the verticalrslot 44against theundercut edges y48 enabling vertical shifting of such blocks in aconfined path.

During any vertical shift, the matched inclined vertical edges ofgripper blocks and slot edges 48 together with cooperation of thegripper block studs 60'and retaining plate verticali-slots 64 provides aconfined vertical guide for the gripper blocks. When the lower Agripperblock 50 is disposedl against-the bottom edge of slot 44 and theremaining gripper blocks l52--53 are resting on each other and on lowerblock 50, the abutting horizontal edgesof each blockand-of thelower-block 50-with the-` lower edge of the slot 44 will be immediatelyin front of lateral openings 66 in the retaining plate 62. Each opening66 Vhas breadth at least equal to the horizontal width of the gripperblocks. The vertical width of each retaining plate opening 66 must beVof suiiicient dimension to permit free insertion of the folded end of anoil color tube, a dimension approximating 1A; inch should be suiicientor this purpose and this same dimension will be present in the spacepermitted in the legth of each of slots 44 and 46 over the combinedheight ofY all gripper blocks StL-53 to permit shifting of the gripperblocks. -if desired, the rear faces of each gripper block 50-58 adjacentits lower edge can be serrated as indicated in Figures 5 and 9 to permitgreater gripping action on the folded end of an oil tube 42, however thefront surface of the lower edge of each gripper block 50-58 should beflat to avoid inadvertent puncturing of the tube while it is gripped.The lower'edge of each of the openings 66 is preferably spaced a slightdistance below the joinder line between the two gripper blocksimmediately in front of the associated opening to enable clearance spacefor the folded end of a gripped oil color tube 42.

Spaced laterally outward from the lower end of each of the gripper platestud slots 64 is a second rearwardiy projected stud 63 rigidly securedto the retaining plate 62n and, similarly to studs 60, may consist ofrivets eX- tending through and welded to vthe retaining plate 62. Aseries of levers 7d, 72, 74, '76 and 78, equal in number andcorresponding respectively to the gripper blocks Sii-- `58 are providedfor enabiing shifting operation of the various blocks. Each of levers70-78 are essentially identical in form having an intermediate aperture(Figure 4) disposed over an associated pivot stud 68 to provide afulcr'um. The lever extends laterally and is parallel to the retainingplate 162. A short arm of each lever (lever 76 being exemplary), extendsto and includes an end aperture 82 which is loosely pivotally disposedover its associated gripper plate stud 60. The levers 70--73 areretained on their associated studs 68 and 60 by washers and cotter pinsor some similar-retaining device, the cotter pins having been omittedfrom the rear view of Figure 5 to avoid useless crowding of the draw-Each of levers "70-78 have an elongated laterally disposed arm with ahorizontally bent ange 84 to-permit convenient engagement and depressionby means of the operators thumb. Depression of any one of levers 70- 78will cause that levertopivot about its stud 68, moving the short leverend upwardly aud shifting the associated gripper block stud 6G withassociated gripper block in an upward direction. If the upper lever 78is depressed, only the upper gripper block 58 will be raised away fromthe adjacent next lower gripper block 56 which willV open access betweengripper blocks 56 and `S8 to the uppermostopening 66 in retaining platev62. With the block so raised, the folded end of an oil color tube 42can be inserted from the-front through or into opening y66 in theretaining plate 62. Similarly, depression of the lowermost lever 70 willcause the lower gripper block '50 to be raised which in turn raises allof the gripper blocks above gripperblock S0 an equalramount, to provideaccess space to the opening 66 adjacent the lower edge of gripper 56.Thus, it is clearly understood that depression of Vany of levers 70, 72,74 and 76 will raise the associated gripper block and all of the gripperblocks above the associated one.

To provide a reasonable force on all gripper blocks 50-58 to bias themin a downward direction againstV adjacent lower gripper blocks and thelower edge of slot 44,there is provided a spring biasing means bestshown in Figure 5. Two shouldered support studs 88, withreducedfdiameter threaded ends S8 (Figure 6), are secured to andproject'rearwardly from an intermediate portion of the retaining plate62. Disposed over the threaded ends'88 and secured rigidlythereto'by'nuts 90' on the threaded ends, is a laterally elongate springanchor plate 92. The lower edge 94 of anchor plate is turned under forstrength purposes and includes a series of spaced hooks 96 integrallyformed thereon. The washer devices 98 disposed over the upper levers 78on the upper gripper block studs 60 are specially formed with a lowerrearwardly turned edge ange 100. ln each of edge anges 100 areapertures, or the like, serving as anchor means for the hooked end ofsprings 102. Two springs 102 are connected between each washer flange100 and associated anchor hooks 96 on the anchor plate 92, and provide abiasing force on the upper gripper plate stud 60 and the associatedgripper plate 58 in a downward direction. It is apparent that thebiasing action of springs 182 on the upper gripper plate 58 will coactthrough all of lower gripper plates 56, 54, 52 and 50 tending to forcethem down against each other and the bottom edge of slot 44.

Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the translating mechanism 110 forprogressive compression of the collapsible tubes from the top portion offrame 24 to its bottom portion will now be described. The end view ofthis assembly 110 is clearly shown in Figure 2 and such assemblyconsists of two laterally spaced vertically disposed channel strips 112dimensioned toV enable their flanges to be slidably disposed in verticaldisposition within the side channels 30 of frame member 24. A verticalplate 114 is welded adjacent the lower edges of each channel strip 112and projects forwardly from the frame member 24. A suitable bridgemember 116, which is shown as a semiattened tubular section, ideal forstrength purposes, is connected between the vertical plates 114 bywelding. Channel strips 112 and the rigidly secured vertical plates 114and bridge member 116 provide a rigid assembly which is verticallyslidable in the side channels 28 of frame member 24.

Bridge member 116 provides the rigid support necessary for a resilientlybiased tube compressing roller 118 which in this instance consists of arubber coated cylinder 120 through which an axle 122 extends. The endsof axle 122 project through laterally spaced axle retaining blocks 124which are integral ends of guide shafts 126. The two spaced guide shafts126 project forward through tubular sleeves 128 which are slidablydisposed through horizontal apertures in the tubular bridge member 116.Coil compression springs 13@ encircle the guide shafts 126 between andabutting end blocks 124 and the inner ends of the tubular sleeves 128.

Intermediate the laterally spaced tubular sleeves 128, which slidablyproject through the bridge member 116, two horizontal forwardlyprojected threaded studs 132 are secured as by welding to the tubularbridge member 116. A spring bias adjusting plate 134 is apertured to fitover the two intermediate studs 132 and the threaded ends of the twoguide shafts 126. The apertures in plate 134 which tit over guide shafts126 are smaller than the outer dimension of tubular sleeves 128 and willabut the outer ends of` such tubes. Lock nuts 136 and wing nuts 138 arethreaded on the projecting ends of fixed studs 132 and by suitablemanipulation can adjust the position of the tubular sleeve 12S relativeto bridge 116 and vary the spring bias force. Lock nuts 136 canbeornitted if desired. Any variation in the compression force of thesprings 1310V will in turn vary the biasing force of roller 118 againstthe flat portion 26 of frame member 24. Guide shafts 125 are free toshift against spring bias within guide sleeves 128, nuts 14@ beingplaced on the threaded ends ofthe guide shafts 126 merely to maintainthe roller, springs, sleeves and guide shafts in assembled position whenthe squeezing assembly 110 is removed from the frame member sidechannels 30.

To prevent inadvertent downward movement of the tube compressingassembly 110 to a position where the roller 118 could pass beyond thelower edge of frame 24,

a stop hook 142 is secured as by bolt and nut to the upper end of eachof the channel strips 112. Hook'142 engages the upper edge of frame 24before roller 118 can pass beyond the lower frame edge to limit furtherdownward movement of the sliding assembly 110. To prevent inadvertentmovement of the sliding assembly olf of the frame member 24 in upwardmovement, a bracket stop member 144 is secured as by bolts and nuts tothe upper edge portion of frame 24 and includes afiange extendingforwardly into the path of movement of bridge member 116. Thus, as theassembly 110 is shifted upwardly in the frame channels 28 inadvertentmovement beyond the upper edge of frame 24 will be prevented when bridge116 contacts the ange of bracket 144.

A spring biased sliding pressure shoe can be substituted in lieu ofroller 118 within the concepts of this invention.

Vertical shifting of the compressing assembly 110 is accomplishedthrougha hand crank located adjacent the upper edge of frame 24.Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a hand crank support bracket 152, havingtwo rearwardly projected end flanges 154, is secured to the rear side offrame 24 by means of flat headed bolts and nuts. The shaft 156 of crank156 extends laterally and parallel across the upper Vportion of the rearface of frame 24. Bracket 152 has a lateral slot 158 extending itsentire width and two short slots in the end anges 154 intersect thelateral slot 158. The termination ends of slots 160 are curved to matchthe radius of the crank shaft 156. Bracket 152 is placed over a lateralintermediate portion of crank shaft 156 and the curved ends of slots 160can engage against shaft 156 to'maintain it rotatably adjacent the backsurface of frame number 24.

On the outer side of each of bracket end flanges 154, the iiat backportion 26 of main fratrie member 24 is pierced with openings 164, theouter edge of which lies in Vertical alignment with the inner edges ofthe slidable assembly channel strips 112. Fixed by welding along theinner side and adjacent the rear edge of each channel strip 112 is atoothed gear rack 116 with the teeth disposed rearwardly immediately infront of an associated opening 164 in the back frame portion 26. A spurgear 168 is secured to the end of crank shaft 156 on the outer side ofan end ange 154 as by a set screw and a second spur gear 17) is securedin a similar manner to crank shaft 156 on the outer side of the otherbracket ange 154. So secured to the crank shaft 156, the two gears 168and axially position crank shaft 156 relative to frame 24 and mesh withrespective racks 166 on either side of the sliding compressor assembly11i). Cooperation between the gears and the racks and between crankshaft 156 and the curved end slots 169 in bracket end flanges 154rotatably journal the crank shaft in operative position.

In operating the dispensing device, a suitable support is provided tomaintain the device 20 in a vertical position. In the illustratedembodiment a vertical rod 34 is secured to a table 22 and the framemember 24 fixed thereto as by a tubular sleeve 32 and locking handle 40.With the squeezing assembly 116 in its uppermost position (not shown)and a suitable receptacle such as a bucket of white paint placed belowthe device 20, a desired tube 42 or tubes of colored paint pigments canbe secured in position. Depending on'the length of tube 42, its foldedend will be clamped by a gripper block 50-58 to enable the discharge endof the tube to be disposed closely adjacent the lower edge of frame 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, a. relatively short tube 42 is disclosed,hence its folded end is positioned between the two lower gripper blocks56 and 52. To do so the second side lever 72 can be pressed in adownward direction raising the gripper block 5.2, together with all ofgripper blocks 54, 56 and 58 located above block 52, against the bias ofsprings 102. The folded end of the tube is inserted under the lower edgeof gripper block 52 and through the rear slot 66 at which time the lever72 is released and the force of springs 192 bias all four gripper blocksS2458 downwardly to clamp the folded end Vof tube 42 between the loweredge of gripper block 52 and the upper edge of gripper block 50. ln thisposition the tube 42 will depend down across the front of frameface-portion 26.

rIhe operator then rotates the crank d and, through the gears 168 and176 meshed with racks 166 on the sliding assembly, will move the entireassembly 110 downwardly. As assembly 11@ moves downwardly, the

squeezing roller 118 rolls along the tlat portion 26 and is biasedthereagainst by the springs 130. When the roller 11S contacts the upperend of tube 42, the collapsible tube 142 will be progressively squeezedflat against the frame back portion 26 forcing all of the color pigmentmaterial within the tube dolwn toward and out of the Vopen lower end tobe dispensed into the paint bucket. Springs 130 create suldcient biasagainst roller 1-18 to squeeze substantially all pigments from withinthe collapsible tube 42 as the sliding assembly 110 moves down to theoutlet end of tube 42. At this point lever 72 can be again depressed andthe folded end of tube 42 removed from between the gripper blocks. Ifthe roller Y 118 has passed completely over the tube, the tube will befree and can be removed and discarded, otherwise reverse movement of thehand crank 150 will shift the sliding assembly 110 back to its upperposition freeing the collapsed tube 42. y

As herein fully discussed and disclosed a new concept in collapsibleytube material dispensing devices is presented. The device incorporatesreadily releasable clamp members for quickly securing and releasing thefolded ends of collapsible tube containers. Provision is made for thecollapsing and dispensing of material from tubes of various lengthswithout having the dispensing materials squeezed over portions of thedispensing device. Further, a plural set of clamping assemblies isprovided enabling simul-taneous dispensing from at least two tubes whichis useful when adding plural color pigments to a white or any paintvehicle. The tube compressing assembly is shiftable up and down invertical tracks enabling a hand crank operator to be located in oneiixed position and provision is also made for resiliently biasing acompressing `device such as a roller or a shoe toward a ilat back plateportion to enable the most eilicient manneiof squeezing all materialfrom a collapsible tube regardless of tube wall thickness.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

l. A holder and dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising: aframe with a flat center portion having at least one elongaterectangular slot therein; a plurality of blocks, each having awidthessentially the same as the width of said slot and the total heights ofsaid blocks being less than the length of said slot, disposed inalignment in said slot for shifting movement along the length of saidslot; resilient means connected between said frame and at least one ofsaid blocks for biasing all of said blocks toward one end of saidslotymeans on said frame and said blocks guidingly retaining said blocksin said slot; operating means connected to each block to enable shiftingof any block toward the other end of said slot and away from the blocksbetween the block being shifted and said one end of said slot inopposition to the biasing force of said resilient means, to enable oneend of a collapsible tube to be placed between two blocks, or the lowerblock and the adjacent said one end of the slot, and gripped therein bythe resilient spring biasing force on said blocks; and pressure meanstranslatable across said frame center portion for engaging andcompressing theV tube from its gripped end and forcing material out ofthe other end of the tube; wherein each of said blocks includes arearwardly disposed pivot stud and said means guidingly retaining saidblocks in said slot includes inclined overhanging slot side edges,matching in clined side edges on said blocks and a retaining plate withelongatev slots around said studs secured to the rear side of said frameover said blocks in said slot.

2. A holder and dispensing device for' collapsible tubes comprising: avertical frame with a flat center portion having at least one elongatevertical rectangular slot therein; a plurality of blocks each having awidth essentially the same as the width of said slot and the totalheights of said blocks being less than the length of said slot, disposedin alignment in said slot for shifting movement along the length of saidslot; coil tension spring means connected between the rear side of saidframe and the rear side of at least the uppermost of said blocks forbiasing all of said blocks toward the lower end of said slot; means onsaid frame and said blocks guidingly retaining said blocks in said slot;an operating lever for each block, pivoted on the rear of said frame andconnected to associated block to enable shifting of any block toward theupper end of said slot and away from the blocks between the block beingshifted and said lower end of said slot in opposition to the biasingforce of said spring means, to enable one end of a collapsible tube tothe place between two blocks, or the lower block and the adjacent saidlower end of the slot and gripped therein by the resilient springbiasing force on said blocks; and pressure means translatable downacross said frame center portion for engaging and compressing the tubealong its length from its gripped end and forcing material out of theother end of the tube.

3. A holder and dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising: aframe with a ilat center portion having at least one elongaterectangular slot therein; a plurality of blocks each having a widthessentially the same as the width of said slot and the total heights ofsaid blocks being less than the length of said slot, disposed inalignment in said slot for shifting movement along the length of saidslot; resilient means connected between said frame and at least one ofsaid blocks for biasing all of said blocks toward one end of said slot;means ,on said frame and said blocks guidingly retaining said blocks insaid slot; operating means connected to each block to enable shifting ofany block toward the other end of said slot and away from the blocksbetween the block being shifted and said one end of said slot inopposition to the biasing force of said resilient means, to enable oneend of a collapsible tube to be placed Vbetween two blocks, or the lowerblock and Vthe adjacent said one end of the slot and gripped therein bythe resilient spring biasing force on said blocks; pressure meanstranslatable across said frame center portion for engaging andcompressing the tube from its gripped end and forcing material out ofthe other end of the tube; and means for translating said pressure meansincluding a rotatable crank with an axially iixed shaft rotatablymounted on said frame and rack and pinion means connecting said shaft tosaid pressure means.

References Cited in the tile 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,168,080 Allen Aug. l, 1939 2,679,951 Yantzer June 1, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 97,578 Sweden Dec. 12, 1939

